The cart turns wheels all seasons. These are the darling buds and blooms I beheld in May.

The Flower Seller

He goes to the market early in the morning to buy fresh, loose flowers in bulk. He sorts, arranges them neatly on the cart. Street by street he pushes his darling buds and blooms, vocally announcing their names loud and proud. He knows there’s demand for loose flowers in ways more than one.

People buy these to adorn deities, or to string them into garlands, or just use them for decorations around the home.  My personal favorite is floral patterns on the floor. Here’s an elaborate one with flowers, fruit, leaves, glass bangles, and food.

Floor pattern

Image Courtesy https://www.flickr.com/photos/49694447@N00/11169875093

Hair-Dos and Don’ts

Sometimes women punctuate their formal updos with select flowers in specific colors to match and contrast their attire. From the rarest orchid to the native jasmine, the possibilities are endless. Here’s a picture of Deepika Padukone, an Indian film actress, courtesy Bollywoodlife.com

Memories of Another Time

A senior neighbor I once knew always used a fresh stemmed rose as a boutonnière to refresh his well-worn wool Nehru jacket. He unfailingly went about the morning walk with his trusted walking stick or umbrella. Chivalrously he would hand over the rose to a neighbor in the form of a courteous lady or child while sharing his favorite authors, local or international. His favorite topic was to impart the merits of the playwright Bernard Shaw while he met people on the street. Time stood still for him, while the neighborhood ladies let their minds circle back to their domestic duties on hold. However, to the courteous person who lent an ear to him or to a curious child, time transportation from Pygmalion’s Ancient Greece via Late Victorian/Early Edwardian London, to Twentieth Century Fox seemed more than welcome.  The senior gentleman has passed on since, leaving behind fond memories. Along with him went the remnants of the Raj. Yet good literature and courteous manners can never go out of style.

The Day’s Haul

I hear the flower vendor around 8:30 am, open the outside gate, and gesture for him to come over.

 

Today the haul includes mini roses and marigolds. With his permission I take pictures of the glorious floral feast, all from several angles for my personal album.

When I am finished, he requests with utmost sincerity, “Madam, could you also take a picture of me to post in Your Facebook?”  Mildly amused, I agree to take the picture and to post on “my facebook.” Now these flowers have another use. They have a “profile” to share.

He rakes his unruly hair with fingers, postures straight, and poses for the click.

As a parting note, with equal mixture of confidence and humility he adds, “Madam, please don’t forget to add my name. It’s Vijay!”

I thought it was all about the flowers for my bouquet of memories. But with his intervening pose, it’s about being in someone’s tiny digital yet somewhat social world where happily everyone’s a celebrity.